Maintenance for the week of September 8:
• PC/Mac: No maintenance – September 8
• PC/Mac: EU megaserver for maintenance – September 9, 22:00 UTC (6:00PM EDT) - September 10, 16:00 UTC (12:00PM EDT) https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/682784
• PC/Mac: No maintenance – September 8
• PC/Mac: EU megaserver for maintenance – September 9, 22:00 UTC (6:00PM EDT) - September 10, 16:00 UTC (12:00PM EDT) https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/682784
The Five Phases of New Feature Implementation!
Yolokin_Swagonborn
✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭
Hey All,
Yolo here. As we all await the much requested Transmog system, I got to thinking about the process we all go through every time there is a new feature introduced and how silly it is. This same process has occurred since launch with every new DLC, or feature including Housing, Moronwind, Battlegrounds, etc. I call it "Yolo's 5 Phases of New Feature Implementation!" Tell me what you think!
Phase 1: Hype: We are currently in the "hype stage" of this new feature, where speculation runs rampant and we all imagine how amazing, perfect, and personally suited TRANSMOG will be to our extremely individual and varied tastes.
Phase 2: Hints of Reality: The next phase is what I like to call the "Hints of Reality" phase where we begin to learn some of the "alleged" limitations, and somewhat arbitrary restrictions imposed on the new system by ZOS. Doesn't work for all armor styles? Can't transmog Monster Sets? Turns items bound? Crown store only? Some forum members will cry alarm but they will be silenced by the "rose colored glasses" army that will chant: "Too soon to tell!," "Still in development!," "Just wait till PTS!" Signal to Noise ratio is low and hype intensifies.
Phase 3: PTS Reveal Next phase is when the system hits PTS and about 90% of what people were concerned about turns out to be true. In addition to that, there are new bugs, limitations and just plain odd game design choices that limit the usability of the new feature even further. Or perhaps a key feature everyone was expecting will be flat out missing.
Phase 4: Deafening Rage and Quiet Feedback:This is, by far, my favorite phase. This is the phase where everyone screams bloody murder, predicts doom, threatens to quit, go on a hunger strike, etc. This then provokes an apologist backlash and both extremes battle it out in the general forums. Many threads are closed during this process. Meanwhile, the more even-tempered members of our community slave for hours on the PTS actually testing out the new feature and typing up long, detailed, and extremely well received feedback posts (Posted on the PTS forums a full month before release) that address all of the issues discovered and offer simple ways to fix them.
Phase 5: Limited Communication and the Race to Release: By the time this phase starts, we are usually only a few weeks away from the target release date. At this point, most of the rage has subsided, most of the bugs, issues and complaints have been described in detail, and everyone has chosen their sides. Poll after Poll after Poll have been placed on the PTS to measure tester support for the most controversial changes. And everyone eagerly awaits official ZOS feedback in response to the some of the biggest issues. And then a funny thing happens:
Now some obvious disclaimers apply:
So in the light of what I have said, what are your predictions about the Transmog system? If you would like to lock in your predictions now (for ultimate bragging rights later), I have included this handy companion poll!
-Yolokin Swagonborn
Edited by Yolokin_Swagonborn on June 24, 2017 9:19PM Yolo here. As we all await the much requested Transmog system, I got to thinking about the process we all go through every time there is a new feature introduced and how silly it is. This same process has occurred since launch with every new DLC, or feature including Housing, Moronwind, Battlegrounds, etc. I call it "Yolo's 5 Phases of New Feature Implementation!" Tell me what you think!
Phase 1: Hype: We are currently in the "hype stage" of this new feature, where speculation runs rampant and we all imagine how amazing, perfect, and personally suited TRANSMOG will be to our extremely individual and varied tastes.
Phase 2: Hints of Reality: The next phase is what I like to call the "Hints of Reality" phase where we begin to learn some of the "alleged" limitations, and somewhat arbitrary restrictions imposed on the new system by ZOS. Doesn't work for all armor styles? Can't transmog Monster Sets? Turns items bound? Crown store only? Some forum members will cry alarm but they will be silenced by the "rose colored glasses" army that will chant: "Too soon to tell!," "Still in development!," "Just wait till PTS!" Signal to Noise ratio is low and hype intensifies.
Phase 3: PTS Reveal Next phase is when the system hits PTS and about 90% of what people were concerned about turns out to be true. In addition to that, there are new bugs, limitations and just plain odd game design choices that limit the usability of the new feature even further. Or perhaps a key feature everyone was expecting will be flat out missing.
Phase 4: Deafening Rage and Quiet Feedback:This is, by far, my favorite phase. This is the phase where everyone screams bloody murder, predicts doom, threatens to quit, go on a hunger strike, etc. This then provokes an apologist backlash and both extremes battle it out in the general forums. Many threads are closed during this process. Meanwhile, the more even-tempered members of our community slave for hours on the PTS actually testing out the new feature and typing up long, detailed, and extremely well received feedback posts (Posted on the PTS forums a full month before release) that address all of the issues discovered and offer simple ways to fix them.
Phase 5: Limited Communication and the Race to Release: By the time this phase starts, we are usually only a few weeks away from the target release date. At this point, most of the rage has subsided, most of the bugs, issues and complaints have been described in detail, and everyone has chosen their sides. Poll after Poll after Poll have been placed on the PTS to measure tester support for the most controversial changes. And everyone eagerly awaits official ZOS feedback in response to the some of the biggest issues. And then a funny thing happens:
- We get some very brief ZOS replies to some of the smaller issues, the easily fixable bugs (aka Low Hanging Fruit) or clearly unintended, (but easily fixable) stuff.
- If we are lucky, we will get a "We are looking into it" for some of the bigger issues, but no plan of action or commitment to fix before release.
- Any suggested features or changes that would require deep technical changes are largely ignored.
- Any bugs or issues that are deeply technical are mitigated as best as possible with the remaining consequences turned into "features."
- Large feedback posts like the one referenced above may be read but no response is given within the PTS timeframe.
- PTS is launched to live with minor adjustments and about 90% identical to the first patch (from a big picture, feature and balance perspective) although I am in no way making light of the work done behind the scenes. Just the end result.
Now some obvious disclaimers apply:
- There is no way we can expect ZOS to make the deep systemic changes we all desire only two weeks away from release. This is partly the fault of the entire PTS testing schedule as the feedback window is too close to the release window. This is the real problem and main reason why many of us are frustrated with the PTS process.
- The PTS process just isn't designed very well for high level feedback. It is mainly a marketing, market research, and hype tool. By market research, I mean that ZOS pays very close attention to what crown store items, what housing items were being purchased, and adjusts (i.e. raises) prices accordingly. This seems to be the true purpose of the PTS, not to take customer feedback.
- For those of you who are itching to reply to this thread "That's how game development works" or preparing a lecture on capitalism. You are partially right but are really not adding to the conversation.
So in the light of what I have said, what are your predictions about the Transmog system? If you would like to lock in your predictions now (for ultimate bragging rights later), I have included this handy companion poll!
-Yolokin Swagonborn
7
-
bebynnag✭✭✭✭✭
✭you say
typing up long, detailed, and extremely well received feedback posts
zos says TL:DR3 -
Yolokin_Swagonborn✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭puffytheslayer wrote: »you say
typing up long, detailed, and extremely well received feedback posts
zos says TL:DR
Well Someone read that post and liked it. A lot of someones. Some of the highest numbers of agrees, likes, and insightfuls I have ever seen. Dwarfs anything I have posted and I am one of one of the biggest insightful farmers on these forums
Lolol, free insightfuls please
Yup, keep 'em coming. Thank you!Edited by Yolokin_Swagonborn on June 24, 2017 8:39PM0 -
bebynnag✭✭✭✭✭
✭Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »puffytheslayer wrote: »you say
typing up long, detailed, and extremely well received feedback posts
zos says TL:DR
Well Someone read that post and liked it. A lot of someones. Some of the highest numbers of agrees, likes, and insightfuls I have ever seen. Dwarfs anything I have posted and I am one of one of the biggest insightful farmers on these forums
your kind of missing the point of my post!0 -
WhitePawPrints✭✭✭✭✭
✭So.. basically a repeat of Morrowind, the DLC that severely deteriorated ZoS's reputation and continues to do so? Sounds about right.0 -
Yolokin_Swagonborn✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭puffytheslayer wrote: »Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »puffytheslayer wrote: »you say
typing up long, detailed, and extremely well received feedback posts
zos says TL:DR
Well Someone read that post and liked it. A lot of someones. Some of the highest numbers of agrees, likes, and insightfuls I have ever seen. Dwarfs anything I have posted and I am one of one of the biggest insightful farmers on these forums
your kind of missing the point of my post!
I think I'm emphasizing it, and in all fairness to ZOS, Rich Lambert did finally mention that post in passing way later after Housing had already gone live but it wasn't really responsive to any of the issues presented, and felt really terse and dismissive.Edited by Yolokin_Swagonborn on June 24, 2017 8:41PM0
...
